By Fred Krone
Oakwood’s Brody Taflinger was the free throw champion in the Toyota of Danville Classic boys’ basketball tournament at St. Joseph-Ogden, but the Comets came up short in the title game against the Spartans, dropping a 66-31 decision on Saturday (Dec. 3).
Taflinger netted 19 of 25 free throws in four tournament games, including 5 of 6 in the finals. His accuracy rate was 76 percent.
Taflinger was Oakwood’s lone representative on the eight-player all-tournament team. He led the Comets with 13 points against SJ-O.
The Spartans blitzed into a 26-10 first-quarter lead and improved its margin to 41-22 at halftime.
Dalton Hobick netted nine points and Tanner Pichon hit seven in the finals.
The Comets secured their berth in the title game by upending Schlarman Academy, 48-36, on Friday (Dec. 2).
Taflinger scored a team-high 12 points for Oakwood. Alec Harrison netted five of his nine points in the final period as the Comets expanded a 29-25 lead into the final 12-point margin.
Jackson Dudley also registered nine points and Hobick added eight points.
Oakwood (8-1) returns to action on Tuesday (Dec. 6) with its 10th consecutive game away from home. The Comets play at St. Thomas More. Tournament champion SJ-O is 4-0.
